NIH advises Pakistanis to mask up during Muharram gatherings.
COVID-19 positivity rate nears 4% as Pakistan reports nine deaths. Pakistan has reported 806 fresh COVID-19 cases and nine coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, the National Institute of Health‘s (NIH) data showed Wednesday morning.
During the last 24 hours, a total of 20,949 COVID-19 diagnostic tests were conducted, of which 806 samples came back positive, the institution’s data showed.
Following the detection of new cases, the COVID-19 positivity ratio stood at 3.85%, moving up from 2.84%, which was recorded a day earlier.
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According to NIH’s data, 160 COVID-19 patients are being treated in intensive-care units (ICU) across the country at different medical facilities.
Pakistanis advised to mask up
With Pakistan logging hundreds of COVID-19 cases every day, the NIH has advised strict adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs), including mask wearing and social distancing during Muharram gatherings.
Gathering and majalis to remember the Shuhada-e-Karbala (martyrs of Karbala) have started as the country observes the new Islamic year — which began on Sunday (July 31).
What are the SOPs for Muharram?
NIH has restricted the elderly and children from attending the gatherings and majalis during Ashura in a COVID-safe manner, as the risk of another outbreak looms with an uptick of the virus across Pakistan.
